Payroll machine



Aug. 2, 1938.

R. J. KIRKPATRICK I PAYROLL MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet l Aug- 2., 1938. R. J. KIRKPATRICK 2,125,728

PAYROIfL MACH INE Filed Dec. 27, 1935 s sheets-sheet '2 Aug. 2; 1938.

R. J. KIRKPATRICK PAYRoLL MACHINE Filed Dec. 27', 19:55

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 .34. Marke@ Aug. 2, 1938. R. J. KIRKPATRIck PAYRoLL MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1955 e sheets-sheet 4 Aug. 2, 1938. R. J. KIRKPATRICK PAYROLL MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nimm@ Aug. 2, `1938. R. J. KIRKPATRICK PAYROLL MACHINE Filed Dec?. 27, 1935 e sneek-'sheet le Haal g gan-Engg NNNWMUW MKM `35 parts on the frame of the machine and on the Pay T011 30001111115 and Patented Aug. 2, 1938 l UNiTsosTATEs PATENT OFFICE PAYROLL MACHINE Robert J. Kirkpatrick, Atlanta, Ga., assignorto Ditto, Incorporated, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of West Virginia Application December 27, 1935, Serial No. 56,352 v 12 Claims. (Cl. 101-133) This invention relates to duplicating machines Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken Von and more particularly to certain improvements the line `il-ll of Fig. 3; in said machines particularly adapted to facili Fig. 5 is a detailed view of a modified form tate the use of the-machines for the purpose of of rack to be used in place of the rack shown 5 `filling out the necessary information needed on in Fig. 3; i

pay roll envelopes and pay checks. l Fig. 6 is a side `elevation of the duplicating While not limited Vstrictly thereto, the present machine showing the opposite side from that invention is particularly useful in connection shown inFig. 2; with duplicating machines of the iiat bed type Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary side ele- 10 like that shown in the patent to Marchev et al., Vation of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 10

United States Patent #2,607,473, issued July 9, 6; i 1935 on Duplicating machine. Fig. 8 is afragmentary sectional view taken on One form of the invention is embodied in a the line 8-`8 of Fig. 7;

duplicating `machine of the above mentioned type Fig- 9 is a fragmentary View partly in Section l5 which includes `a platen over `which a gelatin taken on the line `l-ll of Fig 6; 15 `band isrdisposedwh'en in use, a carriage slidably Fig- 10 iS e SeCiiOnal View taken on the line mounted in the frame of the machine so that it lil- Ill of Fig-` 7; may be reciprocated over the platen bed, spindles Fig. 11 yiS a SeCiiOnal View teken Vertieelly at the ends of the platen bed upon which the through the carriage taken on line H-ll of Fig.

gelatin hand is wound and a `suitable mechanism V1 `showing one position 0f the platen and pres- 20 for transferring the gelatin band from one sure roller of the carriage; spindle to the other across the platen bed. Fig. i2 is a sectional view like Fig. 11 showing The present invention comprises cooperating the platen roller lowered to press a copy sheet mechanisms on the frame ofthe machine and on against a gelatin band on the platen bed;

`the reciprocating carriage whereby a single line Fig. 13 is a view of a master sheet showing 25 or a plurality of lines of a master copy on the the pay records of the number of employees gelatin band may be transferred to a pay enassembled on a single sheet;

velope or a pay check, and successive lines of Fig. 14 is a View showing a pay envelope with the master copy on the gelatin band maybe the necessary information thereon for the ernreadily applied to pay envelopes and checks by DlOyee; 30 the simple step` of advancing the carriage to a Fig. 15 is a View illustrating a bleek 011i Sheet new position after one line or group of lines has utilized in taking OT the Single line CODieS from been copied from the gelatin band. e TeCOTd;

The invention furthercomprises cooperating Fig' 16 ShGwS e mesiereheet in the form 0f a carriage frame operating to provide adjustable i Fg- 17 ShOWS a block'of pay Checks 0111.30 which stop `positions for the carriage in its reverse the information on the master sheet shown in movement after a printing operation which co Fig-16 iS t0 be transferred.

operating parts are readily placed in such posi- Referring 110W in detail t0 the drawings, the

40 tion as not to interfere with the use of the mamachine to which the invention is applied is l0 chine in its normal function of making full .copies ulflstrted in the drawings as a hectograpil ma" from the gelatin band chine of the flat bed type. In the machine as Other features and advantages of the inven- Shown the numeral m indicates a Stand upon tion will become apparent as the following. de- Which a' frame H of the machine is mounted' A platen bed is indicated, by the numeral l2 45 soupon plfogressfs. reference-bemg had to 'th and a hectograph band i3 is extended over the accompanying drawings wherein- 1 platen bed and wound upon suitable spindles ill Flg 1S a plan VleW of a duphatmg mchme and I5 located at the opposite ends of the frame of the flat bed type and embodying the llVenll. Suitable mechanism, ,not shown, connects mon? n i the spindles with an operating handle I6 for 50 `Fig. 2 iS 2i Side eleVaillOn 0f the mechlne, the transferring the band I3 from one spindle to stand therefor being `broken away; Y the Other- Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view in side ele- A copying carriage Il is mounted for reciprotvation of a part of the mechanism shown in Fig. cation on the frame. This carriage, as shown 552; l A

best by Figs. 11 and 12, has a soft sponge rubber M55 platen roller I8, a pressure roller I9 cooperating therewith, and a guide tray 20 for guiding sheets between the platen roller I8 and the pressure roller I9 to an automatic margin bar 2| also mounted in the carriage I1. A handle 22 is adapted to control raising and lowering of the platen roller I8 in a manner which is well understood in the art. When the platen roller I8 is lowered, it is flattened out as shown in Fig. 12 because it is softer than the gelatin band or the platen bed.

The carriage I1 is supported for reciprocating movement by a U-shaped bar 23. As shown in the prior patent above referred to, this bar extends across the frame of the machine beneath the platen bed I2 and has means cooperating with the frame for guiding the carriage in its reciprocating movement over the platen bed I2.

The bar 23 on the side of the machine, shown in Fig. 2, carries a stud 24. A pawl 25 is pivoted on the stud 24. Integral with the pawl 25 is a downwardly extending arm 26. The arm 26 at its free end has a pin 21 thereon and the pin 21 is connected by means of a spring 28 to a pin 29 on the bar 23.

The pin 21 is extended and provided with a handle portion 21 as shown best in Fig. 4. The pin 29 is vertically in line with the stud 24 so that when the arm 26 is moved to one side of a vertical line through the pin 21 and stud 24, the spring tends to maintain it on that side and when the arm 26 is moved to the other side of the vertical line, the spring snaps over and maintains it on that side. This action is illustrated clearly in Fig. 3 where the full line positions and dotted line positions assumed by the arm 26 and the pawl 25 are shown.

When the pawl 25 is in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, it engages a stop pin 36 on the bar 23. When the pawl 25 is in the full line position, shown in Fig. 3, it engages a notch in a rack 3| which is mounted on the side of the frame II by suitable screw bolts 32 and 33.

It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 3 that the rack 3| is provided with a plurality of notches 34. It will also be noted that the face of the notch 34 closest to the left hand of the machine as shown in Fig. 2, is more nearly vertical than the other face so that the pawl 25 may be more easily pushed to the right by the carriage than to the left. Y

As an example of the relative slope of the two faces of the notch, the left hand face may be made at 20 to the vertical and the right hand at The spacing of the notches 34 is preferably such, that advancement of the carriage to transfer the pawl 25 one notch advances the carriage a distance equal to the spacing of the lines of gures on the master sheet shown in Fig. 13.

In utilizing the mechanism just described, a master sheet like that shown in Fig. 13 is first laid on the gelatin band I3 in the usual manner, the pawl 25 being raised into its dotted line position shown in Fig. 3 during this operation. After the master sheet has been left on the band I3 long enough to transfer the characters thereon to the band, the master sheet is removed in the usual manner. The carriage is returned to home position and the pawl 25 is let down into the rst or left hand notch of the rack 3l. A pay envelope such as is shown in Fig. 14 is then inserted between the platen roller I8 and pressure roller I9 against the margin bar 2| as shown in Fig. 1l and the handle 22 is pressed forward to lower the platen roller to the position shown in Fig. 12. The result of this operation is to press the top edge of the envelope down against the line on the band corresponding to the top line of the master sheet shown in Fig. 13.

The platen roller is then lifted and the envelope is removed and by shoving on the handle 22, the operator advances the carriage one step by forcing the pawl 25 out of the first notch into the second notch. The pawl 25, of course, clicks as it drops into the second notch and the operator is ready to feed a second envelope in the same fashion as he fed the rst one. This time, however, the platen roller in descending is in a new position with respect to the gelatin band and presses the second envelope against the line on the band corresponding to the second line on the master sheet shown in Fig. 13. In this fashion, the operator can make out single envelopes for each line of information on the master sheet without applying a new master sheet to the gelatin band.

In case it is necessary to advance the platen roller slightly to obtain say two lines from the master upon the copy sheet, it may be desirable to use the alternative form of rack shown in Fig. 5 at 3I instead of the rack 3I. In this form of rack, the notches 34 are elongated and permit advance of the carriage I1 a short distance before the pawl 25 must be raised. The operation-however, is practically the same with both racks and will not be further described.

On the side of the machine shown in Fig. 6, a further mechanism is provided for permitting step by step advance of the home position of the carriage I1 so that the same machine may be utilized to make copies of a plurality of lines of data from the gelatin band and to select the lines which will be duplicated. This mechanism is particularly useful in connection with a block out sheet such as shown in Fig. 15 to make out pay roll checks such as shown in Fig. 17 from a pay roll account such as shown in Fig. 16. This mechanism comprises a cam rod 35 mounted on the frame II by means of suitable brackets 36 and 31.

I'he bracket 36 is fastened by means of screws to the side of the frame II and the bracket 31 has a portion 38 extending across the front of the frame II and secured thereto by a plurality of screws 39. receive a reduced section 4B of the rod 35 and this reduced section is provided with a plurality of recesses 4I with which a spring pressed ball 42 cooperates to yieldingly retain the rod 35.

in any one of a plurality of selected positions. The ball 42 is held in place by a member 43 screw threaded into the bracket 31. Member 43 is provided with a suitable recess for housing a spring 44 that is adapted to press the ball 42 upwardly. A suitable knurled head 45 is secured to the front end of the cam rod 35. The rod 35 has a reduced end portion 46 rotatably mounted in the bracket 36.

Cooperating means are provided on the cam rod 35 and the bar 23. This means comprises a plurality of recesses 41, 48, 49 and 53 (see Fig. 10) spaced circumferentially about the rod 35 and also spaced from each other longitudinally from the rod. The means also comprises a pawl 5I mounted on the bar 23 and adapted to cooperate with the recesses just described.

The pawl 5I is supported in a block 52 which is secured by screws 53 to the bar 23. A pin 54 is secured in the pawl 5I and passes through The bracket 31 is apertured to l'ilA 2a suitable pair of openings 55 and 56 at opposite `sides of the block V52. These openings are elongated vertically of the block to permit vertical movement of the pawl 5I vin a recess 57 of A spring 58 presses the pawl 5I downwardly.

For the purpose of locking the pawl'5l in raised position, the pawl is provided with a recess at 59 which is substantially cone shaped. The block 52 carries a set screw 60 having a cone shaped tip for engaging in the recess 59. A plate 6i is mounted on the block 52 to prevent complete `removal of the set screw 60.

The various recesses II'I, 48, 49 and 5B are utilized in providing variable positions for the carriage I1 in a manner which will now be described. We have :already described how the machine may be utilized to make copies of one or two succeeding lines of data from the gelatin band as for example, copying single lines from the gelatin band onto a'pay envelope. The ne- .cessity for greater speed in taking off information from the master copy provided on the gelatin band as for example in the making out of pay checks, makes it desirable to make out a number of checks or envelopes at a single operation of the machine.

For the lpurpose of illustration as to how this `may be accomplished, there is shown in Fig. 16

which sheet carries certain data that should a master sheet in the form of a pay roll account be provided on the pay roll checks. Fig. 17 il- :lustrates a block of checks in the form in which they are normally provided.

Now in utilizing the present invention, the

l master sheet shown in Fig. 16 is applied to the gelatin band I3 in the usual manner so as to provide alcopy in reverse in the gelatin band from which copies may be obtained. For this purpose, the carriage I'I is operated from its normal home position and the rod 35 is so` set that a smooth portion 62 thereon lies directly beneath the pawl 5I.

After the master sheet shown in Fig. 16 has been applied to the gelatin band, a block out sheet 63 shown in Fig. 15 is applied to the gela- `tin band. This block out sheet is preferably `liti is aligned with the top name for example,

the opening 55 will be aligned with the fifth name from the top and the opening 56 will be aligned with the ninth name from the top.

-"I'herefore, when the block out sheet 63 is laid uponthe gelatin band, the data in the first,

fifth and ninth lines of the master copy on the gelatin band will be available through the openings 64, 65 and 66. The date numbers above the right hand column following each mans name on the master sheet shown in Fig. 16, will also be exposed through the openings in the block out sheet 63. In laying the block out sheet, however, the rod 35 is first turned to bring the recess 5ft uppermost and the carriage is moved ,forward out of home position until the pawl 5I drops into the notch 5I). The block out sheet is then fed to the carriage and laid on the gelatin band I3 by the carriage I1. When laid in this fashion, the block out sheet 53` exposes the rst,

fth and ninth names on the gelatin band as hereinbefore described. f

When the block out sheet is in position, a sheet of checks such as shown in Fig. 17 is placed in the carriage Il while the carriage is in the new home position with the pawl 5I resting in the recess 50 on the rod 35. The operator then can operate the carriage I'I in the usual fashion by pressing down upon the handle 22 and advancing the carriage to press the sheet of checks against the block out sheet 63 and print on the checks the names and dates and other data exposed through the openings 64, 65 and 66.

To print a second group of checks, the operator removes the block out sheet 63 and turns the rod 35 one step in a counterclockwise direction to bring the recess 49 uppermost and advances the carriage until the pawl 5I drops into the recess G9. He then lays the block out sheet 63 upon the gelatin band I3 in the same manner as before but owing to the advance of the carriage, the block out sheet in the new position will expose thersecond, sixth and tenth names and their corresponding days through the openings 54, 65 and 66. After laying the block out sheet, the operator returns the carriage to the new home position where it is stopped by the pawl 5I engaging in the recess 69 and a second sheet of checks such as shown in Fig. 17 is laid over the block out sheet to fill in the required data upon this second sheet of checks.

The block out sheet is again stripped from the gelatine band and laid in a new position by turning the rod 35 to bring the recess til uppermost after which another sheet of checks is filled out in the same manner. The block out sheet 53 is then again removed from the gelatin band and the carriage set in a new home position by turning the rod 35 to bring the recess 4l uppermost.

The operations hereinbefore described can be repeated again with the carriage limited to its new home position and the block out sheet in this instance will permit copying of the fourth, eighth and twelfth names on the gelatine band to complete the copying of the data provided on the gelatine band from the master sheet shown in Fig. 16.

The machine is readily placed in condition for laying a new master-sheet on the gelatine band by the turning of the rod 35 to bring the smooth portion 62 thereof uppermost after which the carriage Il may be returned to its normal home position and the -gelatin band I3 advanced by means of the handle I6 to provide a fresh surface for a new master sheet. If it is desired to use the machine independently of the rod 35, that is, for normal copy work, the pawl 5I may be locked in raised position by means of the set screw 6I) as will be readily understood.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, of which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as possible, in View of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described the combination of a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a carriage movable over said platen from `Va home position at the front end thereof, a platen roller movably mounted in said carriage, a handle for moving said platen roller to said platen, a bar on said carriage extending downwardly at the side of said frame, a pawl carried by said bar, and a member carried by said frame and having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive said pawl and selectively limit the movement of the carriage toward home position without preventing it from being advanced over the platen.

2. In a machine of the character described the combination of a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a carriage movable over said platen from a home position at the front end thereof, a

platen roller movably mounted in said carriage, a handle for moving said platen roller to said platen, a bar on said carriage extending downwardly at the side of said frame, a pawl carried by said bar, and a member carried by said frame and having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive said pawl and selectively limit the movement of the carriage toward home position without preventing it from being advanced over the platen, said pawl and said member being operable to bring any one of said recesses into operative engagement with said pawl.

3. In a machine of the character described the combination of a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a carriage movable over said platen from a home position at the front end thereof, a platen roller` movably mounted in said carriage, a handle for moving said platen roller to said platen, a bar on said carriage extending downwardly at the side of said frame, a pawl carried by said bar, and a member carried by said frame and having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive said pawl and selectively limit the movement of the carriage toward home position without preventing it from being advanced over the platen, said bar having means thereon to hold said pawl in inoperative position whereby to release the carriage for return to home position at the will of the operator.

4. In a machine of the character described the combination of a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a carriage movable over said platen from a home position at the front end thereof, a platen roller movably mounted in said carriage, a handle for moving said platen roller to said platen, a bar on said carriage extending downwardly at the side of said frame, a pawl carried by said bar, and a member carried by said frame and having a plurality of recesses adapted to receive said pawl and selectively limit the movement of the carriage toward home position without preventing it from being advanced over the platen, said member being movably mounted on the frame to bring any one of said recesses into functionally operative position with respect to said pawl.

5. In a duplicating machine, a frame, a platen thereon, a duplicating band on said platen, a carriage movable over said platen, means on the machine providing a permanent home position stop for said carriage at the front of said platen, a platen roller movably mounted in said carriage and movable to and from the platen, said platen roller being more yielding than the duplicating band whereby it may be flattened substantially by pressing it against said band, and co-operating means on the frame and carriage providing step by step copying of lines on said duplicating band by successive alternate advancing of the carriage and flattening of the platen roller upon a copy sheet interposed between it and said band, said cooperating means comprising a member for pressing the platen roller downwardly toward the platen and lifting it away from the platen, and pawl and rack mechanism interconnecting the carriage and frame, the rack having stops engaged by the pawl to successively prevent reverse movement of the carriage after it has been moved a limited amount away from home position.

6. In a duplicating machine, a frame, a platen mounted therein, a carriage mounted on said frame for movement over said platen, a platen roller in said carriage, a member at the side of said frame having a plurality of notches, a pawl carried by said carriage and engaging said member, said notches being arranged circumferentially about said member and spaced lengthwise thereof, and said member being rotatably mounted on the frame whereby to bring any one of said notches into functionally operative position with respect to said pawl.

7. In a duplicating machine, a frame, a platen mounted therein, a carriage mounted on said frame for movement over said platen, a platen roller on said carriage, a member at the side of said frame having a plurality of notches, a pawl carried by said carriage and engaging said member, said notches being arranged circumferentially about said member `and spaced lengthwise thereof, and said member being rotatably mounted on the frame whereby to bring any one of said notches into functionally operative position with respect to said pawl, and said member having a surface extending substantially the length thereof and parallel to the path of travel of said carriage, which surface is movable into position to engage said pawl by rotation of said member.

8. In a duplicating machine, a frame, a platen thereon, a duplicating band on said platen, a carriage movable over said platen, means on the machine providing a permanent home position stop for said carriage at the front of said platen, a platen roller movably mounted in said carriage and movable to and from the platen, said platen roller being more yielding than the duplieating band whereby it may be attened substantially by pressing it against said band, and cooperating means on the frame and carriage providing step by step copying of lines on said duplicating band by successive alternate advancing of the carriage and flattening of the platen roller upon a copy sheet interposed between it and said band, said co-operating means comprising a pawl on the carriage, and a member on the frame having a plurality of stops to engage said pawl and successively limit movement of the carriage toward home position after each advance thereof.

9. In a duplicating machine, a frame, a platen mounted therein, a carriage mounted on said frame for movement over said platen, a platen roller in said carriage, a member at the side of said frame having a plurality of notches, a pawl carried by said carriage for engaging in said notches, said pawl and said notches having cooperating portions for limiting movement of the carriage in one direction without preventing it from being advanced in the other direction, and manually controlled means to hold the pawl out of engagement with the notches.

10. In a duplicating machine, a frame, a platen mounted therein, a carriage mounted on said frame for movement over said platen, a platen roller in said carriage, a member at the side of said frame having a plurality of notches, a pawl carried by said carriage and engaging said member, said pawl and the notches having cooperating faces offering substantially greater resistance to movement of the carriage toward home position than to advance of the carriage.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a carriage movable over said platen from a-home position at the front end thereof, a platen roller movably mounted in said carriage, a handle for moving said platen roller to said platen, and cooperating means on the frame and carriage rendered operative in succession by advance of the carriage farther from home position to successively limit the movement of the carriage toward home position.

12. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a frame, a platen mounted on said frame, a carriage movable over said platen from a home position at the' front end thereof, a platen roller movably mounted in said carriage, a handle for moving said platen roller to said platen, and cooperating means on the frame and carriage acting as the carriage is advanced to successively limit the movement of the carriage toward home position, said means comprising a spring pressed paWl and a rack having teeth Whose paw] engaging faces are steeper on one side than onv the other.

ROBERT J. KIRKPATRICK. 

